AI Skills Boom: Corporate India Invests More, Yet 40% Workers Face Access Barriers

• Corporate India boosts AI skill spending, but 40% of workers face access barriers due to high costs and limited awareness.
• NIIT CEO Pankaj Jathar highlights that while upskilling methods have evolved, the choice between upskilling and stagnation remains.
• The Union Budget allocated Rs 1,000 crore to IndiaAI Mission and proposed a committee for AI reskilling pathways.
• A disconnect exists between industry needs and academia, with new hybrid roles emerging faster than traditional curricula.
• Digital and data skills are a common priority, but graduate unemployment remains high at 11.2%, emphasizing the urgency of affordable upskilling.